This diamond tiara was made for Louise, Duchess of Devonshire, the year after her marriage to the 8th Duke in 1893 when she was aged 61.
She was seen as a leader of fashion and society, holding many balls at Devonshire House and was especially well known for the magnificent jewellery that she wore.
The tiara has a row of 13 scrolled palmettes (a fan-like shape of leaves on a palm tree), alternating with a lotus pattern. The upper section was made around 1893 and was set throughout with cushion-shaped diamonds. The base has a row of lozenge motifs set between two lines of more cushion shaped diamonds and dates from around 1897. It is mounted in silver and gold.
In order to make the tiara, the 8th Duke of Devonshire removed the diamonds in the Devonshire Parure and other heirlooms, such as the 6th Duke's Garter Star. These totalled 1,041 diamonds, to which Skinner added another 840.
Other items in the collection belonging to Duchess Louise include the highly decorative 'Queen of Zenobia' ball gown.
Return to the Devonshire Collection.
